take nothing away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'take nothing away' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has not diminished or taken away from something else. For example: "The critiques make valid points, but that doesn't take anything away from the success of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I take nothing away from them.

The New York Times - Sports

Take nothing away from Bangladesh.

The Guardian - Sport

"I can't take nothing away from that.

The New York Times - Sports

"I take nothing away from him.

The New York Times - Sports

Take nothing away from the Fins.

The Guardian - Sport

We ought to take nothing away from Peterson, though.

The Guardian - Sport

And we don't take nothing away from them.

The New York Times - Sports

Take nothing away from Widnes though, who were deserved winners.

The Guardian - Sport

That is to take nothing away from the opening-night performance, strictly on its own terms.

The New York Times

Finn is the best bowler in the team at present, which is to take nothing away from the others.

Independent

This is to take nothing away from Robinson, whose first-ballot entry to the Hall raised no eyebrows.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take nothing away" to acknowledge someone's achievements or qualities, while also introducing another consideration. For example, "She won the award, but that should "take nothing away" from the other nominees' hard work."

Common error

Avoid using "take nothing away" when solely criticizing something. The phrase is best used to balance acknowledging merit with introducing a contrasting point, not as a standalone criticism. If you want to state a sole criticism, use "detract from" or "diminish."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take nothing away" functions as a hedge or disclaimer. It softens potential criticisms by acknowledging positive aspects before introducing additional information. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is used to avoid diminishing the value of a prior statement or achievement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take nothing away" is a versatile phrase used to acknowledge merit while introducing another consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, aim for balance and avoid overly negative contexts. Alternatives like "do not diminish" and "without belittling" offer similar nuanced expressions. Its frequency and diverse application underscore its importance for balanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do not diminish

Emphasizes the act of not lessening the value or importance of something.

should not detract from

Focuses on preventing any negative impact on the overall quality or perception.

it doesn't undermine

Highlights the idea of not weakening or compromising the subject's foundation.

it does not invalidate

Stresses that the statement or event does not nullify the validity of something else.

without belittling

Suggests acknowledging the merit of something without minimizing its importance.

not to downplay

Highlights the importance of not minimizing or underestimating something.

it doesn't discredit

Implies that something shouldn't damage the credibility of another thing.

it shouldn't overshadow

Focuses on preventing another thing from obscuring the deserved recognition.

let's not undermine

Proposes to avoid weakening the importance or value of something.

it should not negate

Emphasizes that something ought not to nullify the other.

FAQs

How can I use "take nothing away" in a sentence?

Use "take nothing away" to acknowledge a positive aspect while introducing a potentially mitigating factor or additional information. For example, "The team lost, but that should "take nothing away" from their effort."

What does "take nothing away" mean?

"Take nothing away" means that despite other factors or considerations, the inherent value or merit of something remains undiminished. It's used to express that something else does not reduce the importance of something else.

Which is a better phrase, "take nothing away from" or "detract from"?

Both phrases are grammatically valid, but they carry slightly different connotations. "Take nothing away from" acknowledges inherent worth, whereas "detract from" focuses on diminishing or reducing value. Use "take nothing away from" to balance, and "detract from" to criticize.

What can I say instead of "take nothing away"?

You can use alternatives like "do not diminish", "should not detract from", or "without belittling" depending on the context.